As part of a long-term strategy to bolster and expand research, Virginia Tech wanted to add laboratory, teaching and research space to its campus. Two buildings were designed for the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS): ICTAS-1 and ICTAS-A.
The 99,000-square-foot ICTAS-1 includes BSL 2 research laboratories; classrooms; administrative offices; common-use rooms for specialized multi-user functions; and work spaces for research faculty and post-doctoral appointments.
The laboratories are designed to support the cutting edge of applied and fundamental research in multidisciplinary areas, including bioengineering, biomaterials, nanotechnology, communications technology and sensor technology. These areas of focus will change over time, so adaptability is a driving factor of the design. The $38 million project was completed last fall.
ICTAS-A, a new, two-story 33,000-square-foot building, will support ICTAS-1. It will be home to the Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory.
Architect for both projects is Burt Hill (Washington, D.C.).